Is it possible for you to post an article with pictures showing the differences between a Cayman blue and the invasive green iguanas? I am hoping that when the cullers were vetted they were shown differences and how to quickly/easily spot which is which. I would love to see good photos of them side by side to see if a layman can tell the difference.

Auntie’s answer: I can understand your concern, with the cull of green iguanas off to a fast start (see Cullers remove 40,000 greens in 4 days). Yes, the Department of Environment (DoE) trained the cullers who were registered on the differences between the green iguana (Iguana iguana) and blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi). And yes, there are several resources available on how to tell the difference.

The best primer to distinguish the two species is the video below:

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The information and guidelines given to the cullers is posted in the the CNS Library here. The page on spotting the difference seemed at bit insufficient, but a DoE spokesperson said, “We went through the green/blue differences with every registering culler who did not already clearly know them apart. That question was raised with every single one.”

The Blue Iguana Recovery Programme website devoted a page to the blue and green differences here. It includes an excellent flyer, sponsored by CUC, though I have to say I found the all important text at the bottom a bit difficult to read. Perhaps I just need new glasses.

The DoE also sent me a PDF flyer called Rock Iguanas, which details the differences between rock and green iguanas. This is also posted in the CNS Library. The flyer is nicely descriptive, though initially I found it a bit confusing, having always been told that the rock iguanas are on the Sister Islands and the blue iguanas are on Grand Cayman

It turns out that blue iguanas are in fact rock iguanas, as are all iguanas in the West Indies. We learn something new every day. So, it’s irritatingly more cumbersome but we should probably refer to the iguanas on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman as the Sister Islands rock iguanas (Cyclura nubila caymanensis).

For those who are interested, there are no major differences between the blue iguana and the Sister Islands rock iguana except the blues are a lot prettier when they get excited. When they are, for example, hot or under restraint or fighting, they turn that classic shade of bright blue that we are familiar with. When they are cold or scared, they turn gray or black.

Sister Islands rock iguanas may get more pale if excited and darker if cold, but pretty much stay the same grey/brown colour. But the other differences from the green iguanas still applies, and since the greens are also on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, the video and flyers are still helpful to people on those islands.

Sadly, cross breeding between the green and rock iguanas has been discovered on Little Cayman, which you can read about in this CNS article. The hybrids discovered were hatchlings and hopefully, this was a one-off because that would certainly complicate identification.

For further reading, in the DoE magazine, Flicker, edition #30, which is May/June 2017, there is an article on green iguanas on Cayman Brac. The link to that edition is here and the link to all back copies of Flicker is here.

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Comments (14)

Christian fundamentalists, could you please explain how all the blues managed to make their way from Mt Ararat when the left the ark all the way to Grand Cayman without leaving any other blues behind on the way during their journey 4,000 years ago?

In the same sense that fundamentalist Christians does not necessitate a belief in a 6000 year old earth where every species reemerges from Noah’ s ark, I imagine the same way I imagine not all God deniers necessarily believes abiogenesis without a shred of scientific evidence.

Mostly green ones are in west and south of Cayman while blue ones is in the east end where there very low count of green ones. Cullers more likely hunt in low density while east is high density of bushes.

What’s Happening in the Cayman Islands

The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL) offices will be closed on Wednesday, 18 September, to facilitate a staff meeting, training and team building exercises. All DVDL offices will resume business as usual on Thursday, 19 September.

The National Conservation Council will hold a general meeting on Wednesday, 11 September, starting at 2pm at the Government Administration Building room 2112 (2nd floor). The agenda for the meeting is attached below.

On Monday, 9 September, Fort Street will be closed between Harbour Drive and the junction with Edward Street (Clock Tower) in order to facilitate the Laying in State of the late John McLean, MLA. The closure will take place from 7:45am to 8:30am and again from 3:15pm to 4:00pm.

The Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) would like to inform customers of UPS who may be experiencing delays with receiving their imported goods that the delays are not caused by CBC. They are the result of a private commercial issue between two local on-island agents that provide services for UPS.

The Protocol Office requests individuals, businesses and organisations, who wish to lower their flags to half-mast ahead of the funeral of the late John McLean, MLA, to do so at 9.05am on Monday, 9 September.

The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association reminds all members that the September Social will take place on Tuesday 17 September at 7:00pm in the Seafarer’s Hall, 11 Victory Ave, Prospect. It is expected that all will wear their CISA shirts.

WORC (Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman) would like to inform the public that the extended hours offered on Wednesdays at the Immigration Headquarters will end as of Monday, 30 September. Normal office hours from 8:30am to 4:00pm will resume thereafter.

The Mercuryman Triathlon takes place on Sunday, 8 September, starting at 6:45am at Eden Rock on South Church Street, George Town. The bike portion of the event will begin in front of Eden Rock and participants will travel to East End via South Sound Road, Shamrock Road, Bodden Town Road, Sea View Road and the […]

The Department of Planning in the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure will host an information session on the planning application and permit process at the Family Life Centre on Thursday, September 5, 2019, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The aim of the session will be to provide information and guidance on the planning process […]

By submitting a problem to cnslocallife.com, you grant Cayman News Service Ltd permission to publish it on our websites. Your full name and contact details will never be included or distributed. The advice columnist acting on behalf of Cayman News Service Ltd is expressing personal opinions and views and the advice offered is intended for […]